Chapter 14: Doubt Beast Boy's hopeful expression faded, seeing that the principal's expression remained in that state of surprise. "What did you say?" he asked slowly, hoping that he just heard something else.
"I said that we don't have a student named Tezumi Miko," the man repeated, his eyes on the folder on his table.
"Are you sure? Maybe you just need to check-"
"I check all files daily but I haven't seen any information on the girl you just mentioned," Mr. Murakami said, his eyes scanning the paper in front of him. "And right now I'm going over all the students that have been registered since 3 years ago…but there is no Tezumi on this list."
Beast Boy stared at the man and then shifted his view to the paper on the desk, hoping that his eyes might have more luck.
"Is there anything else I can help you with?"
Beast Boy almost didn't hear his question and his head shot up to his face before he replied in a meek voice: "No, sir."
"If there is any problem, you can talk to me," the man said and smiled but Beast Boy lowered his gaze before he caught the sign of affection.
"Thank you," he murmured and left the room in defeat.
So…Tezumi didn't go to this school – then why was she always here?
Could it be she was here because she had relatives going to this school?
Then why did she never mention it – or maybe she did and he didn't understand?
But she was here today and now she isn't – and Beast Boy was sure that something was not right.
He knew – no, he felt – that Slade had something to do with this…and he knew where he might find Tezumi.
With newfound hope, Beast Boy dashed out of the large building.
Meanwhile Terra came out of her hiding place that was in the janitor's closet where she locked herself in after hearing Beast Boy coming out of the principal's office.
Why was Beast Boy looking for that girl?
And images of the changeling laughing with that girl in the library only yesterday appeared before her eyes – images of him being perfectly happy without her.
A sad smile played on her face before she walked along the corridor towards her class.
She wouldn't intrude in his happiness – after all that was why she distanced herself in the first place.
"Terra, wait!"
The blonde-haired girl stopped in her tracks, recognizing that flat tone of voice at once.
And it surprised her that it wasn't Beast Boy calling her anymore.
"We need to talk. About…Tezumi."
The blonde-haired girl sneaked a look at the person talking to her. The figure across from her wore a cloak and had a hood drawn deep into her face. But the shadow of her hood wasn't dark enough to cover the worry in her eyes.
"What do you want?" she asked curtly, showing that she's only here to listen to their problems, not solve them.
"I know you and I both had not always a smooth run during the time I've known you…but I know that during that time we both have seen how trustworthy Beast Boy can be," Raven said, not bothering to decrease her distance to the former titan.
"I don't know what you mean," Terra murmured.
"I know you want him to be happy, Terra."
The blonde-haired girl looked at the half-demon in surprise but quickly returned to her questioning expression.
"But it's his trusting nature that will cause him to get into trouble. Trusting Tezumi…only hurts him."
"But I have seen him happy with her. Why would I want to try and destroy his happiness?"
"Because his supposed 'happiness' tears our team apart."
Terra narrowed her eyes at Raven, painful memories returning to her mind – memories of her apprenticeship with Slade. But she remained silent, not wanting to get too involved in their lives. She wanted to live her own life – a normal life.
"I know you try to stay away from us…but Tezumi is a threat to our happiness," Raven said, her eyes locked with Terra's.
"I…really have to go to class…"
"And I'm sure that she's a threat to yours too, right?" Raven said and Terra's eyes widened in surprise as images of yesterday flashed across her mind – images of her race-walking through the streets after she parted with her friends as quick footsteps echoed behind her. She managed to lose her stalker in the train however and decided to stop by in her favorite coffee shop, but making sure that Beast Boy wasn't there.
But she barely touched her cake when she felt that presence again and she stole a glance at the seat to the far right by the counter.
And her fear returned, seeing an Asian girl sitting by the counter, drinking from a cup of hot chocolate – the girl watching closely from the corner of her eyes. But she was glad that she didn't follow her when she went out. Terra closed her eyes. "And what do you want me to do?"
Raven smiled at the girl who looked at her in confusion. "You talk to him."
"Talk?"
"If you want him to be happy – if you want yourself to be happy – then talk to him," Raven said and turned away.
"How?" she heard Terra ask as she walked away.
"The way you can gain his trust."
The half-demon was surprised to see Robin still in the common room – and she was even more surprised to see that he frowned upon seeing her.
"What?" she asked bluntly, floating up to her leader.
"You are free to leave the team as well, Raven," he said in a low voice.
"No, thank you! I'd rather stick around and help you pick up the pieces of the 'trust' you broke," Raven said, a disappointed glance directed at the titan leader.
"I didn't break anyone's trust."
"You know what? You're right! You broke our team!" Raven said, glancing around the room, noticing that Starfire and Cyborg were not present.
"It wasn't me! It was Beast Boy – because he's too obsessed with Terra!" Robin said, his voice rising.
"Like you were with Slade?" Raven asked and Robin narrowed his eyes at her. "And Terra might actually be the one who can bring him to his senses."
"What? You don't really think that, do you?" Robin inquired.
Raven turned to walk towards her room, tired of explaining why they shouldn't give up on Beast Boy. "You can thank her when he comes back to the team."
"I don't want him back on the team!" Robin shouted.
"Do Cyborg and Starfire think the same way? Do you really think the same way?"
Robin stared wide-eyed at the half-demon, surprised that she would risk being kicked off the team for Beast Boy.
The half-demon made her way towards her room without another word.
Meanwhile Beast Boy flew through the city, his sharp eyes looking out for a specific destination – the Theme park. It didn't take long for him to find what he had been looking for, dropping down in front of the gate.
He rushed past rides, and food stands, Slade's image haunting his mind. What could he possibly want from a normal girl?
Would her skills be sufficient for him to consider her as his next apprentice?
He almost cringed, thinking of the possibility, remembering that he had lost Terra with her apprenticeship to him.
His gaze went to his shoes, remembering the ex-titan. Why did he still remember her?
Did she remember him even?
He shook his head, trying to force her image from his head and came to a stop in front of the 'House of Mirrors'. He took a deep breath and rushed inside and soon mirrors lined the hallway, reflecting his running image in endlessly different forms.
After mere seconds he finally came to a stop in a hall and his eyes took the surrounding in. The mirrors were still cracked, multiplying and distorting his breathless reflection displayed in them. His footsteps echoed through the hallway – light and hollow – just like he felt whenever he was standing here. His foot hit something hard and he looked down and his eyes widened in surprise.
Under him lied the Slade robot, the red eyes no more glowing as if it had been lying here for months. And as he took in his surrounding once more, he realized that in here…time seemed to stand still. Only if it weren't for that one sentence, repeating in his mind over and over again.
"You don't have any friends…"
He took a step back, realizing with horror that his own words repeated in his ears, the reflections mirroring his movement.
"Was…it my fault?" he murmured as his gaze fell back to the robot under his feet. Was it his fault that Terra refused to remember?
Was it his fault that his own team doubted him?
Was it his fault…that Tezumi had disappeared?
"She doesn't want to see you anymore…"
Beast Boy spun around; hearing Slade's voice echo through the hall but it was nothing more than a voice. The hall stood silent and empty.
Was he cracking up?
Did he…end up worse than Robin?
No, he wasn't obsessing over Slade…or over Terra!
His eyes went back to the robot under his feet and he suddenly realized that Tezumi was still missing. "Where is she?" he murmured, wondering if he could get answers from the metallic android under him.
But of course, the robot remained motionless and as the shape-shifter waited another moment, his patience ran out and Beast Boy let his foot crush its metallic face in.
How could he find Tezumi?
Meanwhile red lights filled a certain tower and Robin gathered his teammates around the mainframe computer. Raven was glad that Cyborg and Starfire finally emerged from their rooms, even if it was primarily for the mission.
She only hoped that her talk with Terra was worth it.
"…go!"
"Where?" Raven asked and Robin looked at her in annoyance.
"Haven't you been listening? Mumbo is robbing a bank again. And I guess it's a good time to call Beast Boy," Robin said, his arms crossed over his chest as Cyborg and Starfire already made their way outside.
"I thought you didn't want him back?"
Robin narrowed his eyes at her before he replied. "I only said this because you insisted on it. I still don't want him if he is still all careless."
"So you do think that he's good for the team – that we need him? But unfortunately, we can't do much for him right now."
"Then why did you stick up for him so much?"
"Because I know someone who can," Raven replied, smirking before she also made her way outside the tower.
Terra rushed outside as her bell rang, not knowing what she should do. She pulled out the yellow titan communicator that Raven had somehow managed to slip into her bag. Memories of the past week flashed before her eyes, as Beast Boy held the device out to her, begging her to come back.
She clasped her hand around the round object, closing her eyes.
"I am not a hero," she murmured in sadness.
"I said that we don't have a student named Tezumi Miko," the man repeated, his eyes on the folder on his table.
"Are you sure? Maybe you just need to check-"
"I check all files daily but I haven't seen any information on the girl you just mentioned," Mr. Murakami said, his eyes scanning the paper in front of him. "And right now I'm going over all the students that have been registered since 3 years ago…but there is no Tezumi on this list."
Beast Boy stared at the man and then shifted his view to the paper on the desk, hoping that his eyes might have more luck.
"Is there anything else I can help you with?"
Beast Boy almost didn't hear his question and his head shot up to his face before he replied in a meek voice: "No, sir."
"If there is any problem, you can talk to me," the man said and smiled but Beast Boy lowered his gaze before he caught the sign of affection.
"Thank you," he murmured and left the room in defeat.
So…Tezumi didn't go to this school – then why was she always here?
Could it be she was here because she had relatives going to this school?
Then why did she never mention it – or maybe she did and he didn't understand?
But she was here today and now she isn't – and Beast Boy was sure that something was not right.
He knew – no, he felt – that Slade had something to do with this…and he knew where he might find Tezumi.
With newfound hope, Beast Boy dashed out of the large building.
Meanwhile Terra came out of her hiding place that was in the janitor's closet where she locked herself in after hearing Beast Boy coming out of the principal's office.
Why was Beast Boy looking for that girl?
And images of the changeling laughing with that girl in the library only yesterday appeared before her eyes – images of him being perfectly happy without her.
A sad smile played on her face before she walked along the corridor towards her class.
She wouldn't intrude in his happiness – after all that was why she distanced herself in the first place.
"Terra, wait!"
The blonde-haired girl stopped in her tracks, recognizing that flat tone of voice at once.
And it surprised her that it wasn't Beast Boy calling her anymore.
"We need to talk. About…Tezumi."
The blonde-haired girl sneaked a look at the person talking to her. The figure across from her wore a cloak and had a hood drawn deep into her face. But the shadow of her hood wasn't dark enough to cover the worry in her eyes.
"What do you want?" she asked curtly, showing that she's only here to listen to their problems, not solve them.
"I know you and I both had not always a smooth run during the time I've known you…but I know that during that time we both have seen how trustworthy Beast Boy can be," Raven said, not bothering to decrease her distance to the former titan.
"I don't know what you mean," Terra murmured.
"I know you want him to be happy, Terra."
The blonde-haired girl looked at the half-demon in surprise but quickly returned to her questioning expression.
"But it's his trusting nature that will cause him to get into trouble. Trusting Tezumi…only hurts him."
"But I have seen him happy with her. Why would I want to try and destroy his happiness?"
"Because his supposed 'happiness' tears our team apart."
Terra narrowed her eyes at Raven, painful memories returning to her mind – memories of her apprenticeship with Slade. But she remained silent, not wanting to get too involved in their lives. She wanted to live her own life – a normal life.
"I know you try to stay away from us…but Tezumi is a threat to our happiness," Raven said, her eyes locked with Terra's.
"I…really have to go to class…"
"And I'm sure that she's a threat to yours too, right?" Raven said and Terra's eyes widened in surprise as images of yesterday flashed across her mind – images of her race-walking through the streets after she parted with her friends as quick footsteps echoed behind her. She managed to lose her stalker in the train however and decided to stop by in her favorite coffee shop, but making sure that Beast Boy wasn't there.
But she barely touched her cake when she felt that presence again and she stole a glance at the seat to the far right by the counter.
And her fear returned, seeing an Asian girl sitting by the counter, drinking from a cup of hot chocolate – the girl watching closely from the corner of her eyes. But she was glad that she didn't follow her when she went out. Terra closed her eyes. "And what do you want me to do?"
Raven smiled at the girl who looked at her in confusion. "You talk to him."
"Talk?"
"If you want him to be happy – if you want yourself to be happy – then talk to him," Raven said and turned away.
"How?" she heard Terra ask as she walked away.
"The way you can gain his trust."
The half-demon was surprised to see Robin still in the common room – and she was even more surprised to see that he frowned upon seeing her.
"What?" she asked bluntly, floating up to her leader.
"You are free to leave the team as well, Raven," he said in a low voice.
"No, thank you! I'd rather stick around and help you pick up the pieces of the 'trust' you broke," Raven said, a disappointed glance directed at the titan leader.
"I didn't break anyone's trust."
"You know what? You're right! You broke our team!" Raven said, glancing around the room, noticing that Starfire and Cyborg were not present.
"It wasn't me! It was Beast Boy – because he's too obsessed with Terra!" Robin said, his voice rising.
"Like you were with Slade?" Raven asked and Robin narrowed his eyes at her. "And Terra might actually be the one who can bring him to his senses."
"What? You don't really think that, do you?" Robin inquired.
Raven turned to walk towards her room, tired of explaining why they shouldn't give up on Beast Boy. "You can thank her when he comes back to the team."
"I don't want him back on the team!" Robin shouted.
"Do Cyborg and Starfire think the same way? Do you really think the same way?"
Robin stared wide-eyed at the half-demon, surprised that she would risk being kicked off the team for Beast Boy.
The half-demon made her way towards her room without another word.
Meanwhile Beast Boy flew through the city, his sharp eyes looking out for a specific destination – the Theme park. It didn't take long for him to find what he had been looking for, dropping down in front of the gate.
He rushed past rides, and food stands, Slade's image haunting his mind. What could he possibly want from a normal girl?
Would her skills be sufficient for him to consider her as his next apprentice?
He almost cringed, thinking of the possibility, remembering that he had lost Terra with her apprenticeship to him.
His gaze went to his shoes, remembering the ex-titan. Why did he still remember her?
Did she remember him even?
He shook his head, trying to force her image from his head and came to a stop in front of the 'House of Mirrors'. He took a deep breath and rushed inside and soon mirrors lined the hallway, reflecting his running image in endlessly different forms.
After mere seconds he finally came to a stop in a hall and his eyes took the surrounding in. The mirrors were still cracked, multiplying and distorting his breathless reflection displayed in them. His footsteps echoed through the hallway – light and hollow – just like he felt whenever he was standing here. His foot hit something hard and he looked down and his eyes widened in surprise.
Under him lied the Slade robot, the red eyes no more glowing as if it had been lying here for months. And as he took in his surrounding once more, he realized that in here…time seemed to stand still. Only if it weren't for that one sentence, repeating in his mind over and over again.
"You don't have any friends…"
He took a step back, realizing with horror that his own words repeated in his ears, the reflections mirroring his movement.
"Was…it my fault?" he murmured as his gaze fell back to the robot under his feet. Was it his fault that Terra refused to remember?
Was it his fault that his own team doubted him?
Was it his fault…that Tezumi had disappeared?
"She doesn't want to see you anymore…"
Beast Boy spun around; hearing Slade's voice echo through the hall but it was nothing more than a voice. The hall stood silent and empty.
Was he cracking up?
Did he…end up worse than Robin?
No, he wasn't obsessing over Slade…or over Terra!
His eyes went back to the robot under his feet and he suddenly realized that Tezumi was still missing. "Where is she?" he murmured, wondering if he could get answers from the metallic android under him.
But of course, the robot remained motionless and as the shape-shifter waited another moment, his patience ran out and Beast Boy let his foot crush its metallic face in.
How could he find Tezumi?
Meanwhile red lights filled a certain tower and Robin gathered his teammates around the mainframe computer. Raven was glad that Cyborg and Starfire finally emerged from their rooms, even if it was primarily for the mission.
She only hoped that her talk with Terra was worth it.
"…go!"
"Where?" Raven asked and Robin looked at her in annoyance.
"Haven't you been listening? Mumbo is robbing a bank again. And I guess it's a good time to call Beast Boy," Robin said, his arms crossed over his chest as Cyborg and Starfire already made their way outside.
"I thought you didn't want him back?"
Robin narrowed his eyes at her before he replied. "I only said this because you insisted on it. I still don't want him if he is still all careless."
"So you do think that he's good for the team – that we need him? But unfortunately, we can't do much for him right now."
"Then why did you stick up for him so much?"
"Because I know someone who can," Raven replied, smirking before she also made her way outside the tower.
Terra rushed outside as her bell rang, not knowing what she should do. She pulled out the yellow titan communicator that Raven had somehow managed to slip into her bag. Memories of the past week flashed before her eyes, as Beast Boy held the device out to her, begging her to come back.
She clasped her hand around the round object, closing her eyes.
"I am not a hero," she murmured in sadness.